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Frugal Five: #114

 


With inflation on the rise and salaries not increasing, our ability to make ends meet is decreasing. Therefore, we must be more careful with our money. The Frugal Five is a series that celebrates the daily or weekly activities that help us live a frugal life.    


I am exploring ways to reduce costs during busy weeks. One strategy is to watch the pennies because they add up. Here are some of my tips and tricks.   


1- Garden Update 


The garden is growing and looks great!   The final picking of the peas has arrived.   The plants have been pulled out, and dried peas have been harvested to finish drying for next year's planting.  Some onions were flowering, so they needed to be pulled and processed for immediate use.     Kale plants have been trimmed and made into kale chips.  Several carrots are ready for harvesting, cleaning, and wrapping for preservation.   Finally, I picked basil, parsley, sage, and oregano to dry for use over the next year.    


I am expecting a bumper tomato crop, so it is time to plan for their preservation.    I am considering preserving ketchup, BBQ sauce, crushed tomatoes, salsa, and dehydrated tomatoes.   


2- Our Rich Backyard 

This week, the 4th of July holiday is observed, so many community events are free to attend.    We have enjoyed several concerts, fireworks, and family fun.    In addition, backyard games and relaxing on the patio.   We enjoy summer breezes and watching the night sky.   


3-  Eating Alfresco 


During the summer, we enjoy eating in our screened-in patio while listening to the sounds of nature or music.    Eating outside elevates the dining experience, and families linger a little longer at the dinner table.       


4- Wine Spritzer 


Last Christmas, my husband experimented with making a batch of wine.    It was a wonderful gift and produced roughly 24 bottles of wine.      Throughout the year, we have gifted bottles to friends and family, but my new obsession with this wine is “spritzers”.     We have discovered that a few flavors of seltzer water mixed with his Elderberry Wine produces a refreshing wine spritzer, which I enjoy regularly.    As a bonus, it pairs the wine with a lower-cost beverage, resulting in a delicious drink.    


5-  Art on a Budget 


I still have a few areas of the house that could use a little art.  When Michael’s has a sale on frames→ Buy 1 Get 2 Free, I pick up 3 frames for pictures that I have collected over the last few months.    I used coupon codes for Walgreens or CVS to get 8x10 photos for free.  When combining the free photo deal with the frame sale, I can display 3 Framed Photos (11 X 14) for $20.00.  


What Free-bees have you been able to pick up this year?   The  2024 Free-Bee Summary has been posted.    If you missed it, then click on the link below.   The new Free-bee List will be coming this Wednesday. 


Here is my list:

Do you want to see my last post?   

Just click on the picture for the link. 



Please leave a comment below with your ways of saving money this week.


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